A certain Li of Tan had a separate house, to which an old man came one day asking to rent it, offering fifty ounces of gold a year, which Li accepted. The old man went away and no more was heard of him, so Li told his household to let it to another. The next day the old man came. "The house is already let by agreement," he said; "why would you rent it to another?" Li told him his doubt. "I mean to live here long," said the old man; "the reason I delayed was that I was waiting for an auspicious day, which falls ten days hence." And he paid a whole year's rent in advance, saying, "Let the house stand empty for the year; ask no questions." Li saw him out and asked the day, which the old man told him.
When the appointed day was some days past and still nothing came of it, Li went to look, and found the double doors shut within, smoke rising from the chimney, and the hum of voices. Surprised, he sent in his card and went to call. The old man came hurrying out, welcomed him in, and talked with him in a friendly way. When Li came home he sent gifts to the house, and the old man rewarded the bearers richly. Some days later Li gave a feast and invited the old man, and they passed the time in great harmony. Asked where he came from, he answered "from within the passes of Qin." Li wondered at its being so far. "Your honored region is a fortunate land," said the old man. "The land of Qin is no place to live; great troubles are at hand." At that time all was at peace, and Li did not press the matter. Another day the old man sent a card to return the hospitality of his host, and the food and furnishings were of the most splendid. Li was the more astonished and suspected him to be a high official. The old man, because of their friendship, told him at last that he was a fox. Li was astonished beyond measure and told every one he met. When the gentry of the district heard of the wonder, they daily thronged his gate, wishing to make his acquaintance, and the old man received them all with courteous bows. By degrees the officers of the prefecture came and went too. Only the district magistrate, when he asked to see him, was always refused. The magistrate then asked the master of the house to arrange an interview, but the old man would not. Li asked why. The old man rose from his seat, drew near, and said in a low voice, "You do not know it yourself, but he was a donkey in a former life; and though he now sits in state over the people, he is one who gets drunk even on husks. I, though a creature of another kind, am ashamed to keep company with him." Li, making some excuse, told the magistrate that the fox feared his clear-sightedness and so dared not see him; and the magistrate believed it and gave up.
This happened in the eleventh year of Kangxi; and before long the land of Qin was ravaged by war, and it is true that the fox could foreknow. The Historian of the Strange remarks: "The donkey is a huge beast. When angry it kicks and brays, its eyes bigger than basins, its breath coarser than an ox's; not only is the sound dreadful, but the sight of it is dreadful too. Yet if one takes a bundle of fodder and tempts it, it lays back its ears and lowers its head, and is glad to be bridled. When such a creature sits over the people, it is no wonder it gets drunk on husks. May those who govern men take the donkey for a warning, and seek a place among the foxes, and their virtue will grow daily."